Umbrella construction



June 2, 1953 E. DIAMOND UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 26. 1948 June 2, 1953 E. DIAMOND UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1948 JNVENTOR. 2

BYE/menus; Dznzwdzvo June 2, 1953 E. DIAMOND 2,640,450

UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Nov. 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r1 Fly. 7.

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Z'nawoez Damian/0 Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION Emanuel Diamond, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor' or onc-half toClarciicc Frankford, Havertown, Pa;

Original application November 26, 1948, Serial No. 62,031, now Patent No. 2,571,122,.dated October 16, 1951. Dividedland this apiilic'ation' January i 1951, Serial No. 204,594

The present invention relates generally to umbrellas and the like and it relates more articularly to an umbrella construction wherein abuttcn-and-tie closure is sewn to the cover closely adjacent one of the tips which fasten the cover to the ribs.

This application is a division of. my co-pending appiication Serial No. 62,031, filed November 26, now Patent No. 2,571,122, dated October 16, 1951.

An object of the present invention to-provide a new and improved umbrella construction. Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of, and apparatus for, quickly and effectively sewing a button-and-tie celement to the umbrella cover closely adja* cent one of the tips by which the cover is connected to the ribs.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

It is customary to provide umbrellas, and particularly womens and childrens umbrellas, with a closure element consisting of a tie or tape adapted to fit around and enclose the free ends of the ribs so as to maintain them in closely adjacent relationship; one end of the tie or tape being sewn, together with an overlying button, to the umbrella-cover closely adjacent one. of the tips, while the other end of the tie or. tape carries a metal ring or the like which fitsover and couples with the button in conventional manner so as to form a generally continuous 1oop.-

In the past, the sewing of the button-and-tie to the cover has been a handoperati on requiring a minute or more to perform. This hand-sewing operation has not-only been relatively costly,'ffrom tthe standpoint of time and labor required, but, in addition, hasbeen objectionable for the reason that, with operators working at high speed, a considerable proportion of the ties are fastened on insecurel'y or non-uniformly.

While automatic'button-s'ewing"machines have, of course, been in usefor many years, it has heretofore been impossible-to use" them in corrjunction with the umbrella butto'n and-tie sewing operation, deserih'ed above, for the reasoirthat tthe sewing must bedene-so-closely adjacent the' relatively large and rigid umbrella-tip, which interferes with 4 the operation of the needle in a the conventional; button-sewing machine.

Accordingto'the present invention; therehas' been developed for the first'tirne, a novel method of, and apparatus for, automatically sewing the 2 Claims. (Cl. 112*265) but-ton and-tie closure element on to the urnbrella-covcr closely adjacent'the tip, in a trac tion of the time required for a hand-sewing operation and in a manner which ensures a secure fastening and maximum uniformity of the tie in mass production.

Generally speaking; the present invention contemplates a new and improved method of, and apparatus for, automatically sewing a lc'uliton and-tie on to an umbrella-cover, insuch a way that theclosely adjacent tip isheld firmly and securely away from the needle, while the cover, button and tie are also held firmly and securely to permit the needle to pass through the button, the tie and the underlying seamed portion of the cover to ensure secure and uniform aflixation of the hutton-and-tie to the cover in predetermined relationship to the tip" and the seam.

For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred, all: though itis to be understood that the" various in strumentalities 01" which the invention consists can be variously arranged andorganized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalitie'sherein shown; and described;

Referring to the accompanying drawings which like reference characters indicate like partsthroughout: I

Figure 1 represents a perspective view cian automatic button-sewing machine embodyihgthe present invention. 7

Figure 2 represents a frofitelevational View or the embodiment of Figure I.

Figure 3 represents afragmentary front elev'a tional View generally like that of" Figure} hut showing the button-holder in raised position;

Figure 4 represents a fragmentary side eleva= tional viewshowing' the front end of the embodi= ment' of Figure 2".

Figure 5 represents a perspective view' of the base-plate of the embodiment of Figures 1-4".

Figure 6 represent a fragmentary'p'erspectiv View of'the'embo'diinent ofl ig'ur'es' 1-4; showing a preliminary stage in'the" operation wherein the button-clamp is in elevatedpositionand: the um- 'orella-tip is positioned on the tip=holder.

Figure 7 represents a view generally like that of Figure 6 but showing subsequent step Where'- in the button been inserted withir'r the but ton ho'lder and wherein'th'e" coverhas been'turned so that the seam extends generally at right an les to, instead of generally parallel to, the tip so as to extend" across the needle openihg and the aligned groove in the spacer-portion of the base-plate and wherein the tie has been positioned so that its folded-under end is below the buttonwith the remainder of the tie extending generally parallel to the tip and at right angles to the seam.

Figure 7-a represents a cross-sectional view generally along the line 7a7a of Figure '7.

Figure 8 represents a perspective view generally like those of Figures 6 and 7 but showing a still later stage in the operation wherein the buttonholder has been lowered to bring the button into juxtaposition with the tie; the under surfaces of the jaws of the button-holder also serving securely to hold the button, tie and cover in generally immovable relationship to the spacer-portion and, at the same time, serving to hold the umbrella-tip firmly upon the tip-holder.

.Figure 9 represents a cross-sectional view generally along the line 99 of Figure 8 but showing the needle in the lowered position extending 8 through the holes in the button and penetrating the tie and the cover.

Figure 10 represents a more or less schematic plan view of the base-plate, button-holder and associated parts indicating the movement thereof during the sewing operation.

Figure 11 represents a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the present invention wherein the spacer-portion is eliminated from the base-plate and, instead, one of the jaws of the button-holder is provided with a lowermost spacer-extension.

Figure 12 represents a crosssecti0nal view generally like that of Figure 9 but showing the em bodiment of Figure 11.

Figure 13 represents a fragmentary perspective view of an umbrella to which has been secured a button-and-tie closure element in accord-- ance with the present invention.

Figure 14 represents a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing the relationship of the button, tie and tip of the umbrella.

Figure 15 represents a cross-sectional view generally along the line l5|5 of Figure 14, In Figures 1-10, there is shown a button-sewing machine which has been adapted to affix a button-and-tie unit to an umbrella-cover, in accordance with the present invention.

Except as to those features which will be specifically described hereinbelow, the machine which is shown generally in Figure 1, is a conventional button-sewing machine, the construction and operation of which are known to, and understood by, those skilled in the art. Thus, for example, the machine may be the singlethread chain-stitch automatic button-sewing machine sold commercially by the Singer Manufacturing Co. as Machine No. 114-432 or No. 1l433. Since the general construction and mode of operation are well-known to those skilled in the sewing machine art, the following description will be directed only to so much of the construction and operation as are necessary to an understanding of the improvements which have been incorporated in the machine in accordance with the present invention.

As indicated particularl in Figure 1, the sewing machine includes a frame or housing, indicated generally by the reference character 20, having a vertically reciprocal needle 21 mounted at its front end 22. The machine is adapted to be driven by an electric motor (not shown) through a drive-belt 23 which fits over a pulley 24 as indicated in Figure 1.

A work-holder assembly 25, which is indicated more or less schematically in Figure 10, is adapted to be moved in a horizontal plane, by appropriate cam-mechanism (not shown) during the stitching operation so as to permit the needle to enter each of the four holes of the button in a manner to be more fully described below.

The work-holder assembly is provided with a button-holder 28 which can be raised and lowered by an appropriate foot-pedal (not shown) and which includes a pair of opposed jaws 21 and 23 constructed and arranged to hold a button therebetween in vertical alignment with the needle 2!, in the manner indicated particularly in Figures 7-9. A center-bar 26-a is provided intermediate the jaws 27 and 28 so as to provide an inner stop for the button, as indicated particularly in Figure '7.

The work-holder also includes a base-plate 29 which is shown particularly in Figure 5. The base-plate 29 is a thin fiat generally-rectangular member having a spacer-portion 30- extending upwardly therefrom.

The spacer-portion 30 is generally hollow and its top wall 31 is provided with an opening 32 which is in vertical alignment with the button and the needle so that the needle can pass through said opening during the sewing operation, in the manner indicated in Figure 9.

In the embodiment of Figures 1-9, the trans verse dimension of the opening 3'2 is sufiiciently large to permit lateral or transverse shifting of the work-holder relative to the needle (which is necessary to permit the needle to make the stitches in all of the four holes of the button).

Where the machine is adapted to sew twohole buttons, the lateral shifting of the workholder is unnecessary and the transverse dimension of the opening 32 can be reduced correspondingly.

The top wall 31 is also provided with a groove 33 which extends transversely from the inner edge of the opening 32 to the opposite side edge of the spacer-portion 39.

The work-holder 25 also includes a generally L-shaped tip-holder 34, whose free end 35 extends toward the front of the work-holder in a generall horizontal plane below the right jaw 28 and at a level slightly lower than the top wall 3|, as indicated particularly in Figures 2-4; the free end 35 terminating just short of the needle 2!, as shown particularly in Figure 4.

The inner end 36 of the tip-holder 34 extends through a U-shaped support 31. A collar 38 is mounted on the portion 36 of the tip-holder 34 intermediate the U-shaped support 3! and is adjustably fastened thereto by a set-screw 39. A helical spring 40 is also disposed on the end 36 and has one end fastened to the support 31 and the other end fastened to the collar 38 so as to tension the end 36 (clockwise in Figure 1) in a manner tending normally to retain the free end 35 in a generally horizontal plane spaced somewhat above the base-plate 29. However, when downward pressure is applied on the free end 35, it will move downward, against the spring 40, in the manner indicated in Figures 8 and 9.

The base-plate 29 may, optionally, be grooved as at 29-1) (the groove partially underlying the tip-holder 34 but extending somewhat therebcyond toward the front end of the base-plate) so as to provide a slight depression to receive the excess thickness of cover material underlying the tip and thereby to prevent the tip from being held at an excessively high level (above that of 5, the spacersportion where the underlying portion of the cover material is excessively bulky.

In aifixing a button-and-tie unit. to an umbrella-cover, in accordance with the present in vention, the umbrella-cover C is first formed with a plurality of tips T attached thereto in a manner well-known in the art, the open ends of the tips T extending outwardlyin continuation of the generally radial seam S, as indicated particularly in Figure 6.

The button-holder 26 is first raised from its normal. lowermost position, shown in'Figure 2, to the elevated position, shown in Figure 3, by operation of the foot-pedal (not shown) referred to above;

One of the tips T is then positioned upon the tip-holder 34; the open end of the tip fitting over the free end so that the tip is in vertical alignment with the right jaw 28 of the buttonholder 26.

This preliminary step is indicated schematically in Figure 6.

After the tip has-thus been positioned upon the tip-holder, the cover is turned so that the seam S extends transversely and to the left instead of in line with the tip T. As indicated particularly in Figure '7, the seam S, in this position, extends across the opening 32' and Within the groove 33' in the top wall 3| of the spacer-per tion 30. As indicated particularly in Figure 'l-a, the groove 33 accommodates the relatively bulky seam S so that there is no appreciable upward bulge of the cover beyond the top wall 3 l.

A button B is then positioned intermediate the jaws 21 and 28 and a tie or tape A is positioned so that it extends generally at right angles to the seam S (and apparently to the tip T) with one end disposed (preferably in doubled-under position) intermediate the button B and the seam S of the cover C.

The food-pedal is then released whereupon the button-holder 26 is automatically lowered until its jaws 21 and 28 contact the cover C and hold it securely against the top wall 3| of the spacer-portion 30.

During this downward movement of the button-holder 28, the right jaw 28 first strikes the uppermost edge of the tip T (which protrudes somewhat upward beyond the top wall 3| when the free end 35 is in its normal horizontal position, as indicated in Figure 7-0.) and forces the tip T and the free end 35 downward until the closed end of the tip T strikes the base-plate 29, as indicated particularly in Figure 9, so that the tip is held firmly upon the free end 35 intermediate the right jaw 28 and the base-plate 29, with the groove 29-h accommodating the underlying cover material.

In this lowermost position of the button-holder 26, the folded-under end of the tie V' is pressed securely against the seam S of the cover C, and the button is held directly above and closely adjacent the tie.

With the tip, cover, tie and button thus 'held securely in predetermined relationship to each other, another foot-pedal (not shown) is depressed so as to engage an appropriate clutch (not shown) and thereby to drive the machine from the electric motor through the drive belt 23 and the pulleys 24.

During the operation of the machine, the needle-bar operates so as to cause the needle to reciprocate vertically in conventional manner.

By means of appropriate camming mechanism (not shown) the work-holder is caused to reciprocate; in a vertical planain synchronismwith theneedle. I

Thus, by way of example, the work-holder can firstmove back and forth several times, to. permit the needle to enter the right openings of the button B, after which the work-holder can move laterally (to the right in Figures 8-10). thereby to bring the needle in line with the left holes of the button, after which the work-holder can again reciprocate back and forth to cause the need e. to stitch in the left holes, followed by a final diagonal knotting stitch.

By way of illustration, the machine can be adjusted so as to make. fourteen stitches (including cross-over and knotting stitch) automatically with each depression of the foot-pedal and thereafter to stop with, the button and tie securely fastened to the cover (with the, button stitching spanning-the seam S);

As mentioned above, the machine can also be set so as to eliminate the lateral movement of the work-holder where two-hole buttons are used.

At the end of the stitching-and-knotting operation, a trimmer-knife (not shown) located below the plate 29 automatically cuts the thread; the needle 2| returning to the uppermost starting position shown in Figure 2. Thereafter, the first-mentioned foo -pedal is depressed so as to raise the button-holder to its uppermost position as indicated in Figure 3.

As the jaws 2'!- and 28 move upward, a pressure on the: cover and the tip is released and the cover (with the button-and-tie afiixed) can then be removed. i

Thereafter, the cover C is attached to an umbrella frame in conventional manner, with the tips T turned under and fitted over the ends of the ribs R, in the: manner indicated particularly in Figures 14 and 15.

In the: final structure, the button B is closely adjacent (and, indeed, partially overlies) the adjoining tip T; the stitching spanning the seam S of the cover and securelyfastening the button and tie thereto.

The other end of the tie or tape A is provided with a metal ring D which can fit over and couple with the button B when the! tie or tape is looped around the tips of the closed umbrella, in the manner indicated in Figure 13.

In Figures 11 and 12 there is shown a modified embodiment of the present invention wherein the base-plate 29-a is provided with an opening 32-a; the spacer-portion 30 being eliminated from the base-plate.

In this embodiment, the left jaw 2l-a is provided with a downwardly extending spacer or foot 4| having a transverse groove 42 formed. in its bottom wall 43.

In other respects, the embodiment of Figures 11 and 12 is similar to that of Figures 1-9.

The method of operation of this embodiment is generally similar to that described hereinabove.

Thus, the tip T is first positioned on the free end 35 of the tip-holder 34, after which the seam is turned to extend sideways to the left, across the opening 32-11.

Thereafter, the button-holder is lowered so as to bring the spacer 4! down against the cover (with the seam S accommodated within the groove 42) and, at the same time, the right jaw 28-0. contacts the tip T and clamps it firmly against the base-plate 29-a.

Thereafter, the second foot-pedal is operated to start the machine and automatically to aflix 7 the button (either 4-hole or 2-hole) with the work-holder 25 moving in the manner described hereinabove.

In some respects, the embodiment of Figures 11 and 12 is even quicker and easier in operation than the embodiment in Figures 1-9, since it is simpler for the operator to position the cover properly with the spacer raised out of the way.

Instead of having the work-holder assembly 25 reciprocate forwardly and backward and from side to side in the mamier described above, it is possible to employ a machine wherein the workholder is stationary and the needle-bar moves (from front to rear and from side to side) in conventional manner.

This further simplifies and speeds up operation since it eliminates the need for moving the relatively bulky cover during the stitching operation.

Sewing machines of this type are commercially sold by The Singer Manufacturing Co., as Model No. 175-61.

Except for the fact that the relative movement of the needle and the button is effected by shifting the needle rather than the button and the cover, the operation of this embodiment is exactly the same as described hereinabove.

While, for purposes of illustration, the novel method and apparatus of the present invention have been described as used in conjunction with the sewing of buttons, the present invention is not so limited and, instead, contemplates the sewing on of snap-fasteners and other similar fastening elements by stitching on to the cover at a. point spanning one of the seams closely adjacent the adjoining tip.

As mentioned hereinabove, the novel method and apparatus of the present invention for the first time permit the automatic affixation of a button-and-tie closely adjacent one of the tips of an umbrella-cover, in a much more secure, dependable and uniform manner, and in a fraction of the time, than is the case with hand-sewing.

The present invention has proven itself, in actual practice, t increase output by as much as 600% or more, compared to conventional handsewing methods heretofore employed, with resultant savings in labor cost, while, at the same time, producing a much more desirable product from the standpoint of strength, uniformity and appearance.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A method of sewing a button-and-tie closure upon an umbrella cover constructed of a plurality of segments seamed together along generally radial lines and having a tip fastened at the outer end of each seam; said method including the steps of positioning said cover so that its seam line extends generally at an angle to the tip, clamping the tip and the cover in said position with a button held with its center in alignment with the seam closely adjacent the tip and with one end of an elongated tie disposed intermediate the button and the seam and with the tie extending generally at right angles to the seam line, and thereafter automatically stitching the button and tie to the cover with the stitches spanning the seam line.

2. A method of sewing a button-and-tie closure upon an umbrella cover constructed of a plurality of segments seamed together along generally radial lines and having a tip fastened at the outer end of each seam; said method including the steps of positioning said cover so that its seam line extends generally at an angle to the tip, clamping the tip and the cover in said position with a button held with its center in alignment with the seam closely adjacent to but at a slightly higher level than the tip and with one end of an elongated tie disposed intermediate the button and the seam and with the tie extending generally at right angles to the seam line, and thereafter automatically stitching the button and tie to the cover with the stitches spanning the seam line.

EMANUEL DIAMOND.

No references cited. 

